MEDICAL RESEARCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20969, 4 September 1931, Page 6

MEDICAL RESEARCH.

QUESTION OF PATENTS. THE B.M.A.'S VIEWPOINT. DISCUSSION BY DOCTORS. [tbom otjr own correspondent.] LONDON, July 23. 'At the opening meeting of the British Medical Association at Eastbourne, the Jquesiion of medical ethics, in relation to -the patenting or otherwise of medical disjeoveries was the subject of a long debate. Dr. A. Ijyndon. on behalf of the council ©f the association, moved: "That, while adhering to the traditional professional Usage, in accordance with which it is unethical' for any medical practitioner who • discovers or invents any substance or principle "likely to be of value in the treatment of patients to act against the public interest by unduly restricting the use of such discovery for his personal adantage, the association recognises the propriety of using the arrangements made by law for the protection by patent or other, wise of such discoveries and the reward l»f those who have made them, provided Vhe principles enunciated are duly safeguarded." ... Dr. Lyndon said that the council, after t declaring that some form of protection [was necessary for research workers, was ulso influenced by the fact that there ,were foreign countries which took a differ- ' Hint view of the ethics of patenting, parlicularly Germany and Switzerland, where an enormous amount of research had been going on in connection with Ijynthetic chemicals. "It is possible," he I laid, "for an English inventor to make a ;rery valuable discovery and publish the results, but not patent it. A foreign jDompetitor can then patent it and present the Englishman making use of his I jwn researches. The council is advised 'that the patent laws do not exist for the Benefit of the individual, but of the community. It believes they, should make it possible for a research worker to protect .'his researches by means of patent. Patentlug does not mean secrecy, but publicity." After a debate the resolution was amended by altering the first four words to "That this association approves," and deleting the last paragraph referring to the nse of patents. In this form it was car- * ried. ' .. Dr. H. R. Brackenbury explained that the effect of the amended resolution was to emphasise the question of restricting the use of discoveries, whereas former regulations condemned the taking out of patents. Mr.eH. S. Souttar (London) said the question of patents was'of great importance to' British industry. Had there been proper patents the whole of the aniline dye industry would have belonged to this country and not to Germany. There would then have been no war. The war depended upon the possession by Germany of that industry. Sir Robert Bolam (Newcastle), moving to amend the resolution, described Mr. Souttar's speech as "a patriotic ballad" and "a Union Jack herring drawn across the 'trail." "The essential thing," he added, "is the usage of the profession." The amended resolution was carried. f ..